Dear Mr Kilmer - Form 5 Novel

Dear Mr. Kilmer

afflicted with the agonizing fear of animal hunting and preferred the quiet solace of writing poems. His love of poem made him to reach out toward a famous poet, Joyce Kilmer and their interaction thereafter through correspondence. His matured stand in supporting a German American family caught in the cross-hairs of bigotry, gave him new courage and insights of the cruelty of unnecessary war. The book also captures the "inner fears" of a misdirected rural community as seen by the actions, reactions and feelings of school-going children. The few dark incidents that happened laid bare the issues of World War I mentality and its divisiveness. The plot though somewhat plodding, is still tightly written to evoke passions and the righteous attitude of nationalism. The book's central theme of Richard's coming to terms with himself, family and community; and the spirit of acceptance and self-help within the community in spite of the raging war in Europe, makes good reading and understanding of the ethos of the times.